By the morn of 22 Norui, (June 22nd), Helluin was't fit to travel;
indeed she was't frantic to do so. She reasoned that as the anguish she
felt for the loss of her connection to Valinor had to do with the Blessed Realm,
she would be best served in seeking out he who had most recently quit Aman. Thus
Helluin and Beinvír made their way west to Lindon, seeking their old friend
Glorfindel. With fine summer weather they kept a quick pace; indeed Beinvír
hadn't found herself nearly jogging to keep up of her partner's longer
strides in many years.

"Helluin, thou shalt run me to my death in thy haste," she chaffed
on the third day of their journey. They had already covered well 'nigh
a hundred miles and were upon the road approaching the White Downs.

"Wherefore art the king's messengers with their horses when one
is needed?" Helluin muttered under her breath, but she slacked somewhat
her pace.

Indeed that afternoon they were met upon the road by just such. A company
mounted and riding in haste 'neath the king's banner came to a halt
before them and one amongst them dismounted and approached.

"Helluin Maeg-mórmenel, thou art summoned to Lindon to the court
of the High King of the Noldor. Ereinion son of Fingon commands thy presence
and counsel as soon as may be. Thou art not…"

"…at liberty to refuse," Helluin finished, cutting him
off, "and if that be Beinvír of the Laiquendi," here she glanced
at her friend and rolled her eyes, "she too is summoned save without word
of command. I know, I know. Indeed we art already headed in haste for Lindon."

The messenger nodded and remounted. Horses were provided for Helluin and
Beinvír, but the Green Elf instead chose to ride behind her partner and
the last horse remained unburdened. Riding hard, the company made 20 leagues
a day. On the second day they came to Mithlond and there took ship for Forlond
and the king's court.

Now it seemed the messengers had been picked for their errand because they
had been born in the Hither Lands and had never set foot in Aman. In coming to
Lindon the travelers immediately saw others who were agitated and ill at ease.
These were Amanyar who, like Helluin, had come forth from Valinor in the Exile
of the Noldor.

In short order Helluin and Beinvír made their way to the high king's
halls and there they were ushered straightaway to the study Gil-galad favored
for his close counsels. Seated there were only Gil-galad and Glorfindel. Both
rose in greeting and then the high king motioned the two ellith to sit. When
all were seated he poured them cups of wine.

"I am glad thou hath come," Gil-galad said, "for a matter
hast arisen that affects many of my folk and I believe it hath affected thee
as well." Here he examined Helluin closely as if trying to discern some
change in her ere he continued. "At the noon hour upon the Re i Anaro were
all those who hath come hither from Valinor stricken in various measures, yet
to all it seemed some loss unknown had been endured. Then to my ears came the
report of Glorfindel, the mightiest amongst us and most recently come from Aman,
and he claimed thence that from the world the Undying Lands hath been taken.
I pray thee tell what became of thee upon that day, Helluin, and what thou felt."

For some time Helluin was't silent. So, she thought, Glorfindel
too had been affected and had discerned the same cause. Breaking her silence
she said, "My Lord, upon the Re i Anaro was't I stricken indeed,
driven from my feet in agony unrelenting and I was't o'erborne by
a sense of loss that haunts me still. I too felt bereft of that which hast ever
been a comfort and a part of my very being. I felt as if the Light of the World
had been taken from my sight, leaving me in a darkness from which my fëa
could not escape."

"O King, upon that day Helluin was't paralyzed and unable to
move 'til after nightfall, and laden thence with such depth of sorrow as
I hath not seen afflict her aforetime," Beinvír said.

Gil-galad nodded. He could only imagine the suffering of the Calaquendi.
He himself had felt nothing, but he had been born in Beleriand hundreds of years
after the Exile and had never set foot in the Undying Lands. Helluin's
debilitation sounded every bit as bad as what his friend Glorfindel had described.
And no healer in Lindon had been able to do aught to relieve his suffering. The
king was't now sure that he had called upon the right person.

"Helluin, I am sorry for thy suffering," Glorfindel said. "Thy
condition sounds much akin to that which I suffered. In that time I too felt
a part of myself wrenched away. I should like to search for it with theFëa
Hendi¹. Will thou aid me?" ¹(Fëa
Hendi, Spirit Eyes Quenya)

Helluin considered the request for only a moment ere she nodded 'yes'.
After a quick look to reassure Beinvír of her safety, she gazed steadily
into Glorfindel's eyes. The room faded and its sounds stilled as their
concentration became fixed upon each other. In the blue of Helluin's eyes
a glow grew to match the golden ril in the eyes of the Lord of the Golden
Flower, and between them a link was't formed that anchored their fëar to
their hroar¹ as they traveled beyond the physical
realm. ¹(hroar, bodies, pl.,
Quenya)

Now as hast been elsewhere told, for those of Elven kind,
the mind at rest is free to wander upon the roads of memory, there to contemplate
that which hath brought woe or to relive that which hath brought joy. Yet always
in these times art the fields visited those seen aforetime in life. The pure
fantasies and imaginings of mortal dreams art a gift of Iluvatar to his Younger
Children. Therefore when the Eldar seek to visit some place to which they hath
not journeyed in waking, an anchor is needed and a second Elf provides that grounding
through a link between their fëar. It can only be achieved by those
of great power and 'tis only appropriate amongst those close in friendship
or kinship, for the two become as companions upon a journey unknown and must
depend upon each other and coexist in harmony.

So on that day in Lindon, Helluin, born ere the Eldar came ever to Aman,
and Glorfindel, twice born upon the Blessed Shores, combined their power and
sought for the Light of Aman within the circles of Arda, and they found it not.
In but moments it seemed, the two recoiled from their link and sat panting and
blinking in horrified wonder. At first neither spoke, nor did their eyes focus
upon the room or their two friends who sat anxiously beside them. Yet finally
they began to recover.

"'Tis gone indeed," Glorfindel gasped.

"Whence…" Gil-galad began to ask.

"All the world hast changed beyond any dream of the Elder kindred," Helluin
whispered. "The lands and the seas upon it art changed and even its form
hath been transmuted."

"Valinor lies now nowhere within its bounds," Glorfindel resumed
in awe, "and Arda is bounded upon all sides by Ilmen and the Void. Unimaginable
is the power of the Hand of Iluvatar."

"My Lord, we upon the Hither Shores art indeed alone. Of Valinor we
marked but a gate enchanted, and that far to the west, leading thence from the
sea into the higher airs."

"If, as thou say, Elvenhome is indeed taken from the Circles of Arda,
then art those of us upon the Hither Shores forever stranded in Mortal Lands,
or is that far gate which thou marked a portal yet open to the Eldar?" Gil-galad
asked.

Helluin turned to her king with an expression of shock.

"That gate one still hoping to come to Valinor might chance. I know
not for sure."

"More still we marked, my Lord," Glorfindel added, capturing
the attention of the king, "for upon the western seas we saw not any trace
of Númenórë. Elenna hast vanished utterly and the sea hast
become broad beyond where it lay. And there art lands too yet further still,
empty and unknown aforetime."

Thereafter none spoke for some time, but each sat alone with their thoughts,
silently contemplating in amazement and wonder what such changes might portend.

"The world is changed; this we now know," Glorfindel said at
last, "and gone from it art the Undying Lands. Gone from the Circles of
Arda is the Light of Aman, yea a step further from our people than even when
it lay across the Sundering Sea…" He trailed off into silence again,
and then with a heavy sigh continued. "'Tis not the world in which
our kindred first awakened; indeed it hast not been since the breaking of Utumno.
This we knew. But now this change is greater by far than the sinking of Beleriand,
and to me, it signifies all the more the quickening of the Fading."

"Aye," Helluin agreed, "time runs ever on. Bit by bit and
in ever greater bites is all we knew taken from the world. The stars ever fade.
The lands and seas change their forms. Someday no place familiar shalt there
be, and in that world we shalt hath no place."

"Thou should call hither those of the Elendili who art in these lands
and speak to them of our findings," Glorfindel softly suggested to his
king. Gil-galad reluctantly nodded in agreement. 'Twas his duty and an
uncomfortable one at that.

In the following days the High King spoke to those of the Faithful of Númenor
who had come in exile to Lindon and great was't their sorrow. Predictably
some captains resolved to sail in search of survivors, for at all times were
many of their folk upon the sea. Thus upon 30 Norui, (June 30th), S.A. 3319,
the ship Ráma Nárova¹ weighed anchor
in Mithlond and sailed for Belegaer. They would traverse the coasts of Harlindon
and Minhiriath, and then make their way to points further south, eventually coming
to Pelargir upon Anduin. Aboard her went Helluin and Beinvír, seeking
for tidings and survivors, for they had also begged transport to Belfalas, there
to see such impact as had been upon their friends, Celeborn and Galadriel and
the Men of Lebennin. ¹(Ráma Nárova, Wing
of Fire =ráma (wing) + náro (fire)
+ -va(assoc sing suff, of) Quenya)

Once past the southern point at the mouth of the Gulf of Lune they began
to see destruction. 'Twas obvious that the coast had been ravaged by a
tidal wave of great ferocity. The further south they traveled the worse the damage
became. They found the shoreline of Minhiriath littered with toppled trunks and
uprooted trees. On 10 Cerveth, (July 10th), Ráma Nárova docked
at Lond Daer Ened and found that haven deserted and washed o'er by massive
waves. Stones were displaced, walls collapsed, and no work of wood remained.
They resumed their journey the next morn with the tide.

From the rail of Ráma Nárova, Helluin and Beinvír
watched the coastline of Enedwaith slip behind them. None of the villages of
the indigenous fisher folk had survived. They passed the mouth of Sîr Angren
on the 16th and the damage increased as they made their way yet further south.
The two ellith could only imagine the total obliteration of the ancient city
of King Lenwe and they hoped their friends had somehow survived.

Ahead they viewed with growing clarity, the westernmost arm of the Ered Nimrais,
hazy in the distance and rising against the sky. It stood out upon a long cape
that jutted 125 miles into Belegaer. Ere they came within ten leagues of it upon
the 20th they shook their heads. Not a single tree remained standing between
the shore and the mountains. 'Twas a scene of desolation. Ráma
Nárova rounded the cape on the 22nd and the captain made their course
due east from due south. On this side of the cape the coast followed even more
closely the mountains and the land well into the foothills was't swept
clean by the flood. 'Twas naught but mile after mile of barren, drying
mud to be seen.

The despair of the two ellith grew as the days passed. On the 24th the ship
passed the mouth of the River Lefnui and began to survey the coast of Anfalas¹, backed
inland by the approaching Pinnath Galin². To their
astonishment the devastation seemed to lessen somewhat as they made their way
east towards the combined mouth of the Rivers Morthond and Ringlô. The
rivers found the sea at the Cobas Haven where an indent in the shoreline sheltered
the city of Edhellond as the coast turned south. ¹(Anfalas, Long
Coast, = an(d)(long) + falas(shore)
Sindarin) ²(Pinnath Galin, Green (Ridges) Hills, = pi(nd>nn) (ridge)
+ -ath(coll pl suff) + g(a>e)len(green)
+ -in(pl suff) Sindarin)

On the morning of 27 Cerveth the Ráma Nárova passed
a Númenórean hull cast upon the rocky shores, but 'twas only
a hulk, dismasted and riven 'neath the waterline, and it had been stripped.
At noon that day they came at last to Edhellond.

Now the astonishment of all was't immense, for though there was't
indeed damage to the quays and piers and a few vessels had been cast up and crushed
in the surge, the city stood at least partially and much of its structure was't
intact. Helluin's eyes traveled o'er the evidence before her in amazement.
No, Edhellond hadn't escaped unscathed, but it still existed where by all
rights it should hath been wiped from the map. The sea wall was't breached
and Lenwe's tower fallen, but many other lesser buildings, particularly
those furthest inland, appeared untouched. But most welcome to all to their eyes
was't the sight of many Elves and Men working hard together to repair what
they could and salvage what they couldn't. The city was't alive and
bustling.

The first mate of Ráma Nárova hailed the harbormaster
and he bid them drop anchor 'nigh the foot of an avenue that led directly
to the citadel. There was't no quay as yet and any coming ashore would
of needs convey themselves thither by boat, but there was't welcome to
be found and tidings to be shared.

Great was the rejoicing of Helluin and Beinvír when they met in the
still standing armory, the Lord and Lady of Belfalas and their daughter Celebrian.

"Welcome, friends of old, and if our accommodations art somewhat diminished
in grandeur, never greater hath been our joy at meeting," Celeborn said
as the two approached.

"I too hath great joy at our meeting," said Helluin when she
straightened from her bow of greeting, "for o'er many days we hath
sailed from Lindon seeing 'naught but destruction upon many shores. Greatly
did we fear for thy wellbeing. Indeed thy land hast been blessed."

"That the Valar hath been merciful to us we hath no doubt," Galadriel
said, "for many reports hath come to our ears of destruction. Much worse
was't wrought upon the coast of Lebennin, and yet from that country hath
come much aid. Great art the hearts of that people."

"That land enjoys not the sheltering of thy haven," Beinvír
said, "and perhaps the sole blessing is that no large ports or cities lie
upon the strand. Nowhere in Lebennin art large populations subject to the whim
of the sea."

For long they spoke of their concerns. Galadriel too had felt the loss of
the Blessed Realm, but all were amazed at the news of the reshaping of Arda.
Amazed as well were they that Númenor was't gone.

"Not seven days past did a ship come up out of the west, 'tis
said," Celebrian told them, "and this a ship of Númenor badly
damaged at sea. Indeed 'twas one of five and its captain beached it upon
the coast to the west." Helluin and Beinvír nodded, having seen
the wreckage from the deck of the Ráma Nárova. "A
few of our people hath told that those who sailed in that company then scavenged
from it all goods, and in their four remaining ships made their way east.

In the last day some few coming to us with aid out of Lebennin hath told
that four ships indeed rode up out of the sea, greatly damaged, and barely limped
into port at Pelargir. 'Tis rumored they art great lords amongst the Dúnedain.
The Faithful there do them high honor…or so 'tis said."

"I must see these Dúnedain," Helluin said, "and
those we came hither with shalt desire to see them all the more."

The next day they took ship again, and Ráma Nárova set
her course in haste for Anduin. Spirits were indeed high amongst the crew, for
these were the first survivors of whom any tidings had come. On 30 Cerveth Ráma
Nárova entered Ethir Anduin and for most of the 31st rode upstream
to the city that Helluin and Beinvír had allowed the Faithful to build
in 2350. There in the evening they docked, but long ere the lines were tied off,
the Men of the crew had marked the battered and sea worn hulls of the four ships
out of Númenor. The quay was still a mile off when the first cheers broke
out, for the watch had seen upon the broken foremast of the nearest ship, the
tattered standard of the White Tree on its field of blue 'neath a rayed
star, the heraldry of Númenor of old, abandoned by the kings and retained
only by the House of Valandil and the Lords of Andunië.